Sarah Rennie
The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent is bringing some colour to each of the 13 municipalities in the region with the launch of its new intermunicipal Butterfly Route. The result of a collaboration on the part of local mayors to promote the region, the first phase of the project will see 17 giant butterflies installed outside municipal town halls, the MRC building, and in public parks.
“Each butterfly is unique and serves as an invitation to the local population and visitors from outside the region to discover all 13 municipalities,” says cultural development agent Nancy Brunelle, who initiated the project at the MRC.
The project was inspired by a similar initiative unveiled last April by the municipality of Franklin. Butterflies were installed outside the town hall and in the Antoine Labelle Park as part of a COVID-19 “Everything is going to be okay” campaign. “These butterflies were used to encourage citizens to take self-portraits [with the butterfly signs] and share them on social networks as part of a solidarity movement,” Brunelle says. “We are inviting people to do the same,” she adds, suggesting visitors and residents can head out on a giant butterfly hunt and collect selfies that can then be published using the hashtags: #papillonhsl #hslqc #culturehsl
Brunelle says she was particularly inspired by the opportunity the project presented as a cultural initiative that would allow her to work with a local artist. “This project was also an opportunity to add some colour to this relatively dark period we are living through,” notes Brunelle, who suggests the bright and colourful style of Franklin resident and artist Audrée Bourdeau fit perfectly with the project.
A beautiful opportunity
For Bourdeau, who was behind the design of the first two butterflies associated with the project in Franklin, the opportunity to work with the MRC on a larger project was impossible to resist. In fact, the idea to create butterflies was one she first brought to the municipality of Franklin as something that was as colourful as a rainbow but would remain in place once the pandemic ends. She had already painted a mural of butterflies on the wall of the municipality’s community centre, so it seemed fitting to stick with the same design.
Each of the 17 butterflies took about three hours to complete. Bourdeau was able to work on three butterflies at a time in her home studio, and thanks in no small part to the contribution of her partner, Alexandre Soucy, she was able to complete the project with time to spare before the planned September launch.
“Some were created with the municipality in mind,” Bourdeau says. Each municipality was asked if there was anything in particular that they would like reflected in the design of their butterfly, and some requested their municipal colours be featured while others had very specific imagery they wanted to see included.
“I think having something that brings the municipalities together is important,” Bourdeau says. Having grown up in Saint-Chrysostome, she is especially interested in seeing the region thrive. “There is so much that can be done with this project,” she says. “It’s the first step in something that can really grow.”
A second phase planned for the project will incorporate local businesses and cultural landmarks, but for now, both Brunelle and Bourdeau are pleased with enthusiasm of local mayors and are excited to launch the project. “We hope the tour will instill some happiness in the hearts of our citizens and help visitors to better discover our vast and beautiful region,” says Brunelle.
The Intermunicipal Butterfly Route will be presented to the public at the same time as the vernissage for the collective art exhibition at the Alfred Langevin Cultural Hall at the Chateau building in Huntingdon on Friday, Sept. 25. The launch of the Butterfly Route and the exhibition will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. As a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, a maximum of 10 visitors will be able to view the art show at one time.